Randy Rhoads theft: Items recovered after Thanksgiving robbery

Ozzy and Randy Rhoads
Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads at the Rosemont Horizon in January 1982 (Image credit: Paul Natkin - Getty)

Last week, a number of items that once belonged to late Ozzy Osbourne (opens in new tab) guitarist Randy Rhoads were stolen from the Musonia School Of Music – the centre that was founded by Rhoads’ mother Delores in 1948.

Thieves broke into the school in Hollywood, California, on Thanksgiving and made off with several guitars that belonged to the guitar icon, along with other instruments and memorabilia. 

That led Ozzy to offer a $25,000 reward for information which would lead to the arrest and conviction and/or return of all stolen items (opens in new tab).

It’s now been reported by news network ABC7 (opens in new tab) that some of the items have been recovered – including a guitar, amps, photos and other memorabilia.

The items were found by North Hollywood resident Bobbi Fredriksz, who saw the items in a dumpster while she was out walking her dog. It wasn’t until she returned home and saw a TV report about the theft that she realised what she had seen earlier.

Fredriksz says: “I was laying in bed, not feeling well, when it came on I was like, ‘Wait a minute. Oh my God!’ I ran all the way back over and it was still there. Somebody else started to see it and called police.”

Fredriksz says she dragged the items out of the bin to protect them from rain.

Rhoads’ nephew Nick D’Argenzio has also thanked Ozzy and his family, telling thee network: “We’re really grateful to the Osbourne’s for the help in promoting the news about it."

Among the items taken were Rhoads' first ever electric guitar and an amp the guitarist used while he was a member of Quiet Riot in the 70s.

Ozzy listed some of the items that were taken last Thursday along with images and has urged those with further information to contact: D’Argenzio either by phone: 818-281-7893 or email: nickdargenzio@gmail.com

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers and magazines as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. After initially joining our news desk in the summer of 2014, he moved to the e-commerce team full-time in 2020. He maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott grew up listening to rock and prog, cutting his teeth on bands such as Marillion and Magnum before his focus shifted to alternative and post-punk in the late 80s. His favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Ned's Atomic Dustbin and Drab Majesty, but he also still has a deep love of Rush.